Bow for a stringed musical instrument



INVENTOR,

JOH N A.GRAYDON.

WWLI Q 1: 130% J A GRAYDON BOW FOR A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 22, 1947 LWW IL April 5, 1949.

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOW FOR A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to stringed musical instruments, and more particularly to a bow for playing stringed musical instruments of the viol class such as a violin.

In the playing of stringed instruments such as those of the viol class which normally are provided with four strings, it has been the practice in the past to employ a conventional bow having a single shaft or stick and a single group of hairs. Bows of this conventional type are able to play only two strings simultaneously when used with a conventional violin. Very often it becomes desirable and necessary to be able to play more than two strings on an instrument of this class. For example, it may be desirable to play all four strings or, for example, the two outside strings simultaneously, that is, the g and e strings.

' No satisfactory means have heretofore been suggested for playing all or for playin said two outside strings simultaneously.

According to the present invention, apparatus is provided for overcoming the above noted difficulties.

Various further and more specific features and advantages of the invention will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate, by way of example, a preferred arrangement for carrying out the invention. The latter consists in such novel combination of features as may be shown and described in connection with the device herein disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a violin showing a bow therefor in side elevation whichembodies the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a frog or base of a violin bow embodying one form of the invention; and v Fig, 3 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 2.

The invention consists in general of novel means for playing all of the strings of an instrument such as a violin, and comprises a violin bow having a shaft which normally is made of wood and upon which is preferably stretched a primary string sounding member such as a strand or group of hairswhich may be mounted thereon in a conventional way but which preferablyis somewhat wider than a' conventional hair strand.

' frog [2. 'means of a primary strand holder M which is This primary string sounding member, by means to appear hereinafter, can be interposed between two strings or two separate groups of strings and by canting and operating same can sound both of said strings or groups.

In order to supplement the primary string sounding member a secondary member of this type may be provided which preferably is stretched directly adjacent the shaft in such a manner that when the bow is tilted it also can sound certain strings which concurrently are being acted upon by the primary member.

In one embodiment of the invention the secondary string soundin member may act to supplement the primary one as above mentioned, in which case the latter is able to sound e. g., all four strings of a violin when interposed between the upper and lower pairs of strings. However, in a second embodiment, if the primary string sounding member is capable of sounding only one of said pairs of strings the role of the secondary member is somewhat different in that it now may sound strings which but for it would remain silent.

In the form shown, the novel bow is employed with a conventional violin having four strings. Means are provided whereby the primary strand of hair may be interposed between the upper pair and the lower pair of strings, that is, between the pair d, a and g, e. Thus the lower pair of strings can be played by the primary hair strand and the upper pair can be played simultaneously by the secondary strand. By canting or operating the bow slightly upon its side, thus all four strings may be played simultaneously. However, if the bow is operated without canting same, one or both strings of either the upper or lower pairs can be played.

Referrin to the drawings in further detail, the novel bow as illustrated in Fig. 1 consists of a shaft or stick l0, preferably of wood, having a conventional tip or head II and a novel base portion or frog [2.

The base I2 is at an extremity of the bow which is opposite to that of the tip H. As above mentioned, there are two strands of hair which are stretched upon the above bow. A primary strand I3 is stretched upon the bow in the usual manner, that is, between and upon the head II and the Strand [3 is held to the frog [2 by associated with the frog in a novel manner to appear hereinafter. A secondary strand of hair I5 is stretched directly adjacent said shaft l and is situated thereupon in such a manner that when the bow is tilted, it can play certain of the strings of the violin as will appear below.

The novel bow described herein is adapted for sounding or playing any musical stringed instrument and in the embodiment shown, is adapted for sounding a violin which has mounted thereupon in a well known manner four strings indicated at |6, l1, l8 and I9. These strings respectively are, in accordance with normal practice, tuned to g, d, a and e" respectively.

The violin bow is so constructed that the primary hair strand may be rapidly and unobtrusively interposed between the lower pair of strings l6, l9 and the upper pair |1, |8. As indicated in Fig. 1, the four strings of the violin may be played simultaneously by canting or operating the violin bow slightly upon its side, the primary strand |3 acting to sound the pair |6, I9 and the secondary strand l acting to sound the upper pair of strings l1, l8.

It will be understood that the term hair strand as above used can refer to any sounding material, for example, a single gut string or a line of any suitable sounding material may be employed. The term string-sounding member may refer generically to such material.

In order to enable a rapid and easy positioning of the primary strand or hair group I3 in between the upper and lower pairs of violin strings, a novel device is provided as illustrated in particular in Figs. 2 and 3. This device is preferably formed as a part of the above mentioned frog or base member 12 and preferaby comprises a plate 20 in which a slot 2| is formed which leads to an enlarged perforation 22.

The mouth of the slot 2| is indicated at 2|a and, in the embodiment shown, is formed upon the forward edge of the plate 20, that is, the edge nearest the head I I.

It is clear that if one or more violin strings move into the slot 2| when the primary hair strand holder I4 is in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2 that such strings may be thereafter withdrawn from the slot and will be intermediate the primary strand l3 and the shaft in, said withdrawal being effected after the primary strand holder is moved to the position shown in dotted or broken lines shown in Fig. 2. The movement of the holder l4 across the mouth of the slot may be effected by finger pressure directly thereupon or by any suitable means such as the device to be described below.

Means are provided upon which the primary strand holder l4 may move across the mouth 2|a of the slot 2| from the position shown in solid lines to that shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, comprising preferably a groove or track 23 formed in said forward edge of the plate member 20. Said groove or track is engaged by a suitable part of the primary strand holder |4- which in the form shown is constituted by a hook member 24 which may be rigidly connected to the strand holder l4 by means of a suitable connection or wrist 25. The hook member 24 is of suflicient length to bridge the mouth 2 la of the slot 2| whereby said member may simultaneously engage opposite edges of the mouth and may easily be moved from one side thereof to the other as shown in Fig. 2.

When the primary strand holder (including hook 24) is in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, the slot 2| is considered to be opened or unmasked exteriorly of the violin bow, that is, theslot is adapted for receiving an object such as a violin string from a point which is outside of the closed band or loop formed by the primary strand I3 and the shaft l0. However, when the strand holder I4 and the hook 24 are in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, the slot 2| is considered to be open or unmasked interiorly of the bow. This in turn refers to the ability to insert or withdraw an object such as a string relative to the slot 2|, which object or string is within the loop or band formed by the shaft I0 and the primary strand |3.

It is desirable to provide means which will shift the hook 24 along the track 23, for example, in response to a movement of an object such as a string relative to the slot 2|, whereby said string may quickly be inserted into the slot and thereafter may be interposed between the shaft HI and the primary strand l3 by virtue of said relative movement. The means for accomplishing the shifting of the hook 24 along said track 23 comprise, in the embodiment shown, a lever 26 which is pivoted at 21 and is provided with a primary or forwardly extending finger 26a, and with a secondary or rearwardly extending finger 26b which latter finger is adapted for moving in the region of the perforation 22 in response to a thrust exerted by an object which has been inserted into the slot 2|. The primary finger 26a, of course, is of sufiicient length to engage the hook 24 and to move same downwardly as shown in Fig. 2 in response to a thrust against the finger 26b. A suitable limit stop such as a pin 28 may be provided to restrict the angular movement of the lever 26 in a clockwise direction and a suitable resilient member such as a spring (not shown) may be employed for yieldingly urging the lever 26 against said limit stop 28.

Suitable conventional means may be provided for tightening the primary hair strand l3 by shifting the frog |2 axially upon the rod HI by means of a hand operable screw 29 (Fig. 1). Means also may be provided for controlling the tension upon the secondary strand |.5, for example, comprising a secondary screw 31) which may be provided with a knurled head 3|. The

latter may be mounted upon a suitable bracket 32 attached to the rear edge of the plate 20. Angular movement of the head 3| and screw 30 may create a thrust which is communicated to the secondary strand I5 through the intermediary of a threaded bracket member 33 which has attached thereto the small cable 34 such as a wire, the latter being attached to a secondary strand holder 35 in which is seized the rear extremity of the secondary strand.

In operation, the normal position of the primary strand I3 is as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. When the primary strand is in this position, the violin may be played in a normal and conventional manner. However, when it is desired to interpose said primary hair strand in between the upper pair of strings l1, l8 and the lower pair l6, IS, the primary strand holder l4 may be shifted as by finger pressure from the position shown in broken lines to the position shown in solid lines (Fig. 2). Thus the mouth 2|a of the slot 2| is uncovered or unmasked exteriorly of the how. The strings l1, l8 now may be inserted in said slot 2| and may be moved to the perforation 22 where they will engage the secondary finger 26b. A thrust upon said secondary finger thereby will shift the lever 26 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2

and thus will communicate a downward thrust to the hook 24 by means of the primary finger 26a. The hook 24 together with the primary strand holder l4 thus will be moved to the position shown in broken lines. 'I'hereupon the mouth 2 la of the slot will be unmasked interiorly of the violin bow and .the strings I1, l8 may be withdrawn from the slot and then will be interposed between the rod l0 and the primary strand [3.

Considered differently, the primary strand l3 at this time will be interposed between the upper pair of strings l1, l8 and the lower pair l6, I9. By holding the bow in its normal position relative to the violin the lower pair l6, 19 may be played simultaneously. By canting the how, that is, by operating it slightly upon its side, all four strings may be played simultaneously as described above.

When it is desired to extricate the primary strand from between said pairs of strings, the upper pair (l1, l8) may be moved into the slot 2| and thereafter holder It may be urged against one of the strings, such as l9, whereby holder Il may be moved to unmask said slot exteriorly of the bow and strings I1, l8 removed from the slot.

While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred example which has given satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bow of the class for sounding the strings of a musical instrument, a shaft, a frog member on said shaft, a head member on said shaft, one of said members having a slot extending to the edge thereof for the reception of at least one string, a holder for a string-sounding member mounted for movement upon said member having the slot therein, said holder being adapted for movement across the mouth of said slot, and a string-sounding member stretched between said holder and the other of said members.

2. In a bow for sounding the strings of a musical instrument, a shaft, a head member mounted on said shaft, a base member mounted on said shaft, a string-sounding member mounted upon and between said base and head members, one of said base and head members having a slot therein extending to an edge thereof for the reception of at least one string, and means for shifting one extremity of said string sounding member across the mouth of said slot.

3. In a bow of the class described, a shaft, a head at one shaft extremity, a frog at the opposite shaft extremity, said frog being slotted for the reception of a string, a hair strand holder mounted upon said frog for movement across the mouth of said slot from one side thereof to the other, a hair strand mounted between said head and holder, and means responsive to the movement of a string relative to and in said slot for moving said holder from one side of the mouth thereof to the other.

4. In a bow of the class described, a bow shaft, a head at one extremity thereof, a slotted frog at the opposite extremity thereof, a primary holder movably mounted on said frog adjacent said slot, a primary hair strand stretched between said head and holder, a secondary hair strand stretched adjacent said shaft, said holder being movable across the mouth of said slot to unmask same exteriorly and interiorly of the bow.

5. In a bow for a stringed musical instrument, a shaft, a frog mounted upon said shaft, a holder, a string-sounding member stretched upon said bow and held at one extremity thereof to said frog by said holder, the latter being mounted on said frog for movement across the mouth of a slot formed therein, said holder being movable to open said slot exteriorly of the bow for the insertion therein of strings and also movable to open said slot interiorly of said bow whereby said strings are withdrawable from the slot to a position intermediate the shaft and hair strand.

6. The combination with a bow shaft having a head, a frog and a primary hair strand, of a primary hair strand holder movably mounted upon said frog adjacent the mouth of a slot formed therein, said holder being adapted for assuming a primary position wherein the slot mouth is intermediate the shaft and holder and a secondary position wherein the holder is intermediate the mouth and shaft, said slot being adapted for accommodating at least one string of a musical instrument, and means for shifting said holder from said secondary position to said primary position in response to a thrust against said means caused by an object moving in said slot.

7. The combination with a bow shaft having a head, a frog, and a primary hair strand, of a primary hair strand holder including mechanism for slidably associating said holder with said frog, the latter having a slot formed therein extending to an edge of the frog, said mechanism being adapted for bridging the mouth of the slot and slidably moving thereacross, said holder thus being adapted for assuming a primary position wherein the slot mouth is intermediate the shaft and holder and a secondary position wherein the holder is intermediate the mouth and shaft; and a lever pivotally associated with said frog and having a portion thereof operatively associated with said slot and another portion thereof engageable with said strand holder for shifting the latter from said secondary position to said primary position in response to a thrust against said lever caused by an object moving in said slot.

8. The combination with a bow shaft having a head, a frog, and a primary hair strand, of a primary hair strand holder including mechanism for slidably associating said holder with said frog, the latter having a slot formed therein extending to an edge of the frog, said mechanism being adapted for bridging the mouth of the slot and slidably moving thereacross, said holder thus being adapted for assuming a primary position wherein the slot mouth is intermediate the shaft and holder and a secondary position wherein the holder is intermediate the mouth and shaft; a lever pivotally associated with said frog and having a portion thereof operatively associated with said slot and another portion thereof engageable with said strand holder for shifting the latter from said secondary position to said primary position in response to a thrust against said lever caused by an object moving in said slot; and a secondary hair strand mounted along said how shaft.

9. In a bow of the class described for sounding the string-s of a musical instrument, a shaft, a frog mounted on said shaft, said frog having a slot therein having a mouth at one edge therecf, 2. string-sounding member holder having mechanism for associating; same with said frog for sliding movement across the mouth of said slot, said mechanism being adapted for bridging the mouth of said slot, and a string-sounding member attached to said holder and to said shaft.

JOHN A. GRAYDON.

REFERENCES CITED The'followin'g references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

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